Identification of Loads Acting on an Object

Historically, passive structural health monitoring (SHM) techniques have been applied using structural models, which describe the baseline condition of the structure prior to the onset and growth of damage. For structures subject to external loads, such as wind turbines, helicopter rotor blades, aircraft fuselages, fiberglass race cars, or potentially human bones, the inability to measure the input force prohibits passive health monitoring systems from updating the system model to account for changes in boundary and environmental conditions or alterations in material properties caused by damage. Health-monitoring systems cannot function accurately during system operations unless they have the ability to adapt system models immediately. If damage is suspected, operation is suspended to evaluate for damage. This downtime can be costly in terms of both labor and productivity lost.

Purdue University researchers have developed a method of real-time monitoring and damage detection that incorporates passive hardware, passive load identification, and active damage detection techniques. Utilizing three passive sensors, damage from an impact can be detected and analyzed in real time using a highly advanced computer model that identifies the point of impact and magnitude of force. This information allows operators to decide if a component was actually damaged or if the damage was superficial, which determines the next step of stopping or continuing operation. This information will save time and money on unnecessary inspections.